Genetic alterations affect immune contexture of non-small cell lung cancer: Ukrainian study

IntroductionAlthough the role of various genetic alterations was highlighted among factors affecting the response to immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the relations between oncogenic driver variants and changes in the cancer immunity cycle are still unclear.AimThe study aimed to d...

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Main Authors: Denys Kozakov, Nazarii Kobyliak, Sofiia Livshun, Oleksii Seleznov, Olena Koshyk, Alina Matvieieva, Yaroslav Shparyk, Oleksii Kolesnik, Yuliia Moskalenko, Oleksandr Vynnychenko, Roman Moskalenko, Serhii Kropyvko, Anna Khmel, Bogdana Shkarupii, Oksana Sulaieva
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1558016/full
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author Denys Kozakov
Denys Kozakov
Nazarii Kobyliak
Nazarii Kobyliak
Sofiia Livshun
Oleksii Seleznov
Oleksii Seleznov
Olena Koshyk
Olena Koshyk
Alina Matvieieva
Yaroslav Shparyk
Oleksii Kolesnik
Oleksii Kolesnik
Yuliia Moskalenko
Oleksandr Vynnychenko
Roman Moskalenko
Serhii Kropyvko
Anna Khmel
Bogdana Shkarupii
Bogdana Shkarupii
Oksana Sulaieva
Oksana Sulaieva
Oksana Sulaieva
author_facet Denys Kozakov
Denys Kozakov
Nazarii Kobyliak
Nazarii Kobyliak
Sofiia Livshun
Oleksii Seleznov
Oleksii Seleznov
Olena Koshyk
Olena Koshyk
Alina Matvieieva
Yaroslav Shparyk
Oleksii Kolesnik
Oleksii Kolesnik
Yuliia Moskalenko
Oleksandr Vynnychenko
Roman Moskalenko
Serhii Kropyvko
Anna Khmel
Bogdana Shkarupii
Bogdana Shkarupii
Oksana Sulaieva
Oksana Sulaieva
Oksana Sulaieva
author_sort Denys Kozakov
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionAlthough the role of various genetic alterations was highlighted among factors affecting the response to immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the relations between oncogenic driver variants and changes in the cancer immunity cycle are still unclear.AimThe study aimed to discover the links between the molecular and immune context of NSCLC.Materials and methodsThis cohort study included 254 cases of NSCLC (193 Lung Adenocarcinomas) (LUAD; 76%), and 61 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC; 24%), with pathology reports and next-generation sequencing (NGS) data available. First, the rate and spectrum of genetic alterations were assessed in the Ukrainian cohort. Second, we uncovered the relationship between the oncogenic driver mutations and PD-L1 expression in NSCLC. Finally, T-cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD8+) and tumor-associated macrophages (CD163+) were evaluated in samples with EGFR and KRAS mutations, ALK rearrangements and LUAD with no genetic findings. Immune desert, immune excluded and inflamed types of tumor immune microenvironment (TME) were defined according to the cancer immunity cycle.ResultsMore than half (52%) of the observed NSCLC cases harbored single (48.03%) or concomitant (3.94%) genetic alterations in oncogenes. The Ukrainian cohort demonstrated a high rate of EGFR (18.5%) and ALK rearrangements (9.4%) with a relatively moderate frequency of KRAS mutations (16.9%). NSCLC tumors with alterations in EGFR and ALK demonstrated a high incidence of PD-L1 expression and specific immune contexture. The number of CD8+ cells varied significantly between oncogene-driven and wild-type LUAD (p = 0.019). Non-oncogene-addicted NSCLC demonstrated the prevalence of Inflamed TME rich in CD163+ macrophages. In contrast, over half of EGFR mutant LUAD cases possessed immune desert TME type, while ALK-rearranged and KRAS mutant NSCLC showed mostly immune excluded TME.ConclusionThe high rate of PD-L1 expression in NSCLC driven by EGFR and ALK alterations was accompanied by a prevalence of low immunogenicity with a shift toward ID TME in EGFR mutant tumors and IE TME in ALK-rearranged and KRAS mutant NSCLC. Further discovery of mechanisms affecting tumor immune contexture is needed for tailoring patient management in line with particular mechanisms of immune evasion.
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spelling doaj-art-1e2ca37bec1146628e89f57e077e1e2b2025-08-20T03:58:49ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-07-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15580161558016Genetic alterations affect immune contexture of non-small cell lung cancer: Ukrainian studyDenys Kozakov0Denys Kozakov1Nazarii Kobyliak2Nazarii Kobyliak3Sofiia Livshun4Oleksii Seleznov5Oleksii Seleznov6Olena Koshyk7Olena Koshyk8Alina Matvieieva9Yaroslav Shparyk10Oleksii Kolesnik11Oleksii Kolesnik12Yuliia Moskalenko13Oleksandr Vynnychenko14Roman Moskalenko15Serhii Kropyvko16Anna Khmel17Bogdana Shkarupii18Bogdana Shkarupii19Oksana Sulaieva20Oksana Sulaieva21Oksana Sulaieva22Medical Laboratory CSD, Kyiv, UkraineInstitute of Molecular Biology and Genetics NASU, Kyiv, UkraineMedical Laboratory CSD, Kyiv, UkraineDepartment of Endocrinology, Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, UkraineMedical Laboratory CSD, Kyiv, UkraineMedical Laboratory CSD, Kyiv, UkraineDepartment of Pathology, Kyiv Medical University, Kyiv, UkraineMedical Laboratory CSD, Kyiv, UkraineDepartment of Pathology, Kyiv Medical University, Kyiv, UkraineMedical Laboratory CSD, Kyiv, UkraineCommunal Nonprofit Enterprise of Lviv Regional District “Lviv Regional Oncology Medical Diagnostic Centre”, Lviv, UkraineDenys Clinics, Kyiv, UkraineDepartment of Oncology, European International University, Kyiv, UkraineDepartment of Oncology, Sumy State University, Sumy, UkraineDepartment of Oncology, Sumy State University, Sumy, UkraineDepartment of Oncology, Sumy State University, Sumy, UkraineInstitute of Molecular Biology and Genetics NASU, Kyiv, UkraineSpecialized Mammalogical Center, Kyiv, Ukraine0Audubon Bioscience, Kyiv, Ukraine1Ukrainian Association of Research Biobanks, Kyiv, UkraineMedical Laboratory CSD, Kyiv, UkraineDepartment of Pathology, Kyiv Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine2Ukrainian Association for Precision Medicine, Kyiv, UkraineIntroductionAlthough the role of various genetic alterations was highlighted among factors affecting the response to immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the relations between oncogenic driver variants and changes in the cancer immunity cycle are still unclear.AimThe study aimed to discover the links between the molecular and immune context of NSCLC.Materials and methodsThis cohort study included 254 cases of NSCLC (193 Lung Adenocarcinomas) (LUAD; 76%), and 61 squamous cell carcinomas (SCC; 24%), with pathology reports and next-generation sequencing (NGS) data available. First, the rate and spectrum of genetic alterations were assessed in the Ukrainian cohort. Second, we uncovered the relationship between the oncogenic driver mutations and PD-L1 expression in NSCLC. Finally, T-cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD8+) and tumor-associated macrophages (CD163+) were evaluated in samples with EGFR and KRAS mutations, ALK rearrangements and LUAD with no genetic findings. Immune desert, immune excluded and inflamed types of tumor immune microenvironment (TME) were defined according to the cancer immunity cycle.ResultsMore than half (52%) of the observed NSCLC cases harbored single (48.03%) or concomitant (3.94%) genetic alterations in oncogenes. The Ukrainian cohort demonstrated a high rate of EGFR (18.5%) and ALK rearrangements (9.4%) with a relatively moderate frequency of KRAS mutations (16.9%). NSCLC tumors with alterations in EGFR and ALK demonstrated a high incidence of PD-L1 expression and specific immune contexture. The number of CD8+ cells varied significantly between oncogene-driven and wild-type LUAD (p = 0.019). Non-oncogene-addicted NSCLC demonstrated the prevalence of Inflamed TME rich in CD163+ macrophages. In contrast, over half of EGFR mutant LUAD cases possessed immune desert TME type, while ALK-rearranged and KRAS mutant NSCLC showed mostly immune excluded TME.ConclusionThe high rate of PD-L1 expression in NSCLC driven by EGFR and ALK alterations was accompanied by a prevalence of low immunogenicity with a shift toward ID TME in EGFR mutant tumors and IE TME in ALK-rearranged and KRAS mutant NSCLC. Further discovery of mechanisms affecting tumor immune contexture is needed for tailoring patient management in line with particular mechanisms of immune evasion.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1558016/fullnon-small cell lung canceradenocarcinomagenetic alterationsoncogenesimmune contexturecancer immunity cycle
spellingShingle Denys Kozakov
Denys Kozakov
Nazarii Kobyliak
Nazarii Kobyliak
Sofiia Livshun
Oleksii Seleznov
Oleksii Seleznov
Olena Koshyk
Olena Koshyk
Alina Matvieieva
Yaroslav Shparyk
Oleksii Kolesnik
Oleksii Kolesnik
Yuliia Moskalenko
Oleksandr Vynnychenko
Roman Moskalenko
Serhii Kropyvko
Anna Khmel
Bogdana Shkarupii
Bogdana Shkarupii
Oksana Sulaieva
Oksana Sulaieva
Oksana Sulaieva
Genetic alterations affect immune contexture of non-small cell lung cancer: Ukrainian study
Frontiers in Medicine
non-small cell lung cancer
adenocarcinoma
genetic alterations
oncogenes
immune contexture
cancer immunity cycle
title Genetic alterations affect immune contexture of non-small cell lung cancer: Ukrainian study
title_full Genetic alterations affect immune contexture of non-small cell lung cancer: Ukrainian study
title_fullStr Genetic alterations affect immune contexture of non-small cell lung cancer: Ukrainian study
title_full_unstemmed Genetic alterations affect immune contexture of non-small cell lung cancer: Ukrainian study
title_short Genetic alterations affect immune contexture of non-small cell lung cancer: Ukrainian study
title_sort genetic alterations affect immune contexture of non small cell lung cancer ukrainian study
topic non-small cell lung cancer
adenocarcinoma
genetic alterations
oncogenes
immune contexture
cancer immunity cycle
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1558016/full
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